Fighter jets force down small plane in Charlotte

Charlotte Observer ^ | 9/10/02 | Ted Reed

[PJeffQ]

Fighter jets force down small plane in Charlotte
BY TED REED STAFF WRITER

Fighter jets forced down a small plane in Charlotte Tuesday morning because it hadn't provided authorities with enough information, say aviation sources.

Early reports indicate that the plane was en route from Columbia to Colorado Springs, Colo. when it was forced down around 11:15 a.m. at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport.

The FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration were said to be investigating.

The plane apparently had an Egyptian registration at one time, a source said. Further details were unavailable.

Dwain Wilkins, spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration, said authorities were satisfied that the plane was not a risk.

Authorities "wanted to reverify some information," he said. "They were cross-checking in the system."

[Wright is right!]

SU- is Egyptian? Sounds more like Sudanese to me. What is the tail-number format for Egyptian-registered aircraft?

Michael

[Go Gordon]

If they pulled up alongside, and the pilot was wearing a diaper on his head, would they have shot it down?

LOL - for some reason this really hit my funny bone. With the 11th coming tomorrow and the tension in the air, I needed a chuckle,thanks

[PJeffQ]

The plane apparently had an Egyptian registration at one time, a source said. Further details were unavailable.

[The Toad]

RE: Fighter "Jets"

Why didn't they use Fighter Props instead? Journalists.... (sigh)

[banjo joe]

Affirmative! I'm soooo tired of the phase "fighter jets".
Whadda they expect? P-51s? Goobers. And "forced down". Okay, obviously an intercept, and we're all briefed on light signals, guard freq, and manuevers. So they complied, or were "forced down"? Morons.

[azhenfud]

"Dwain Wilkins"

Whew! I almost read that as "Darwin"....

[cyphergirl]

If the pilot was just taking a little VFR cruise, he wouldn't have to file a flight plan at all, would he?

[Darksheare]

Well... Near-by here in New York there is a Jewish settlement called Kiryas Joel. Last week, an unmarked white aircraft was circling the town for about two or more hours.... unopposed. The village called the staties, the staties said they'd send up a chopper to have a look-see.

Never heard anymore after that, didn't make the paper.

Three months back, some guy with swarthy skin was video-taping Orange County Airport from a non-descript mini-van. When spotted by passers-by, he visibly got nervous and drove off.

Again, no other info.
What is going on around here?

[VaBthang4]

I grow so tired of listening to media types use buzz words to explain a situation.

Is it too much to ask that they get a friggin book and study up on some "reality based" jargon?

I dont watch any other networks but FOXNEWS' daytime crew can be pretty bad at this.

[Brian Allen]

"SU" designates Egypt's aircraft registry.

[As "N" designates ours]

It is an Egyptian airplane.

[OldFriend]

Seems a helicopter pilot named Mohammad 'accidently' had the wrong frequency on his copter the other day while over NYC.......he caused some very anxious moments and a jet escort.........

I don't believe these are 'accidents' at all. Either a way of increasing the anxiety or testing security. These incidents ought to be SEVERELY punished.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Fighter jets escort flight to Charlotte, N.C.; Egyptian plane lacked right documentation -AP Breaking News
(09-10) 10:59 PDT CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Two F-16 fighter jets escorted an Egyptian-registered jet to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport on Tuesday because its crew did not provide authorities with adequate flight information, ...

[Ides of March]

the plane was en route from Columbia to Colorado Springs...
...home of the US Air Force Academy.

No way the Air Force was going to let that happen!

Beware.

[Constitution Day]

LOL

[nevergore]

My understanding that it was a small twin engine jet, possibly a Citation.....Since they cruise best at well over 18K feet, it would be mandatory to file a flight plan....

BTW, It would be highly unusual for a jet to cruise cross country and not be above 18K feet.....

The only time you see those jet's below that altitude is for takeoff/landing and short ferry hops....

They cost waaaayyy too much to operate down low....

NeverGore

[PJeffQ]

The following was posted on a local sports message board in SC by a pilot who flies out of Columbia:
The Citation (not small, but I guess compared to an airliner it is) had Egyptian registration. This was strictly a paperwork issue. The plane was at all times in contact with Air Traffic Control. It is not based out of Columbia, but had stopped there to refuel.

It simply appears that there was some paperwork that was not properly completed or was suspicious, and given that today is the 10th there was an immediate reacton. The plane was not forced down, it landed of its own accord in Charlotte. It was, however, escorted by some of our friends from Shaw AFB.

[azhenfud]

Also, I could be wrong as laws often change, but the cruise speed of 250k plus would require the use of Class "A" airspace (at or above 18000 MSL) - mandating IFR flight....

[nevergore]

I believe you're right about a 250kt limit but that only applies to Class "B" airspace.....

It's been awhile since I've reviewed that question.....

Besides I never had to worry about the limit, my Cherokee sSix only does 142kts with a strong wind behind it.....LOL!

NeverGore :^)

[PJeffQ]

Check out post 36

[SGCOS]

Well of course they brought it down...He was trying to fly with the dang door open"